TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan donated 5 tons of relief aid to the Philippines after the country was hit by six typhoons within the space of one month, reports said Friday (Nov. 22).

The disasters left 160 dead, 9 million homeless, and caused damage estimated at NT$260 million (US$8 million). Following donations including cash and 1,000 tons of rice, Taiwan shipped relief goods valued at 5 million pesos (NT$2.76 million) Friday.

The goods included beds, mattresses, solar energy lights, mosquito nets, and kitchenware, per CNA. Taiwan’s envoy in Manila Wallace Chow (周民淦) presided over the handover of the materials to Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, the chair of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan. 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will be in charge of distributing the donations.

Chow said he hoped the typhoon survivors would be able to resume their normal lives by Christmas, while Taiwan would continue to evaluate the need for assistance. The possibility of systematizing disaster prevention and relief aid cooperation between the two countries needed to be discussed, Taiwan’s office in Manila said.